Planter



p 1942. A. c. LINDGREN 2,296,216

PLANTER Filed Nov. 25, 1938 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 Inventor @QZezasGLindrezz Sept. 15, 1942.

A. c. LINDGREN 2,296,216

PLANTER 7 Filed Nov. 25, 19758 :s Sheets-Sheet s v Y 1/] 15/ 103 n I Eggg 1 1% 57 F ?8 60 Q 71 T ?0 r 69 I" v 7 Zelzzgjejfltof 6/ L92 ms .1 T611Patented Sept. 15, 1942 2,296,216 PLANTER Alexus C. Lindgren, Chicago,111., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of NewJersey Application November 25, 1938, Serial No. 242,203

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a planter. More specifically it relates to acorn planter of the cross-check-wire type, in which a check-wire isreceived at one side of the planter and is laid down at the other side.

In planters of the type which receive a checkwire at one side and lay itdown at the other side, there is always the problem of properlyreleasing the check-wire when turns are to be made. Furthermore, thereis the problem of making a planter follow directly behind a tractorwhich pulls it, since the drag in the checkhead of a check-wire at oneside of the planter tends to make the planter run out of line. Any slopeof the ground laterally of. the direction of travel of the tractor andplanter also tends to make the planter run slightly to one side of thetractor. All valves on a check-row planter are operated simultaneously,and, if the planter does not travel in a direct line forwardly, thecheck will not be accurate. This is especially true of a wide four-rowplanter.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedplanter.

Another object is the provision of a planter which will resist thetendency to move out of a line directly behind the tractor which pullsit.

A further object is to provide a means for throwing the check-wire clearof the planter when turns are made, in a' planter which receives thecheck-wire at one side and lays it down at the other side.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

According to the present invention, ch ck-wire sheaves are fixed at therear of and outwardly of both sides of a tractor. A planter is pivotallyattached to the tractor. A check-wire is received over one sheave at oneside of the tractor, runs across over the sheave at the other side, andis laid down at the other side of the tractor. A spring controlled armis pivoted at the center of the planter and has its ireerend under thepart of the check-wire which is being laid down. When a turn is made,the arm is released, so that it throws the check-wire clear of theplanter. The planter has two axles, each supported by wheels, and theseaxles are normally in alinement, but can be turned slightly out ofalinement by means under the control of the operator at the tractor,which adjusts one end of each axle with respect to the planter frame. Inthis way, the tendency of the planter to run out of a line directlybehind the tractor is resisted, whether this tendency be caused by therunning of the planter over ground sloping laterally of the planter.

In the drawings 7 Figure 1 is a plan View of the improved planter,showing its attachment to the rear end of a tractor; V

Figure 2 is a siderview of the planter taken along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1, with the checkwire throwing arm in upright position;

Figure 3 is a detail, showing the framework, by means of which the crossmember supporting the check-wire sheaves is attached to the tractor;

Figure 4 is, a detail, showing the end of the spring controlled armemployed jor throwing the check-wire clear of the planter;

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a section taken along the line 1--! of Figure 1; g V

Figure 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7 and,

Figure 9 is a detail, showing the arm used for throwing the check-wireclear of the planter.

As seen in Figure 1, there are a U-shaped draw-bar l0 and rear wheels llof a tractor, not shown. At the rear of the draw-bar is a corn planterl2. The attachment of this corn planter to the draw-bar l0 may best beseen in Figures 3 and 5. A framework I4 is attached to the draw-bar bymeans of a member l5. As part of the irameworlathere is also an uprightU- shaped member I6 reenforced by bracing memhers I! and 18. TheU-shaped member I6 is of circular section and has at either side, inengagement-therewith, pairs of rollers l9 and 20. These-rollers I9 and20 are supported, respectively, on pins 22 and 23. The pins 22 arecarried in brackets 24 and 25, and the pins 23, in brackets 26 and 21.Each of these brackets is bolted to an angle member 29, which extendslaterally of the tractor beyond each of the rear wheels H and carries'atits ends, in suitable holes 30 and 3!, check-wire sheaves 32 and 33.

A piece'34 is bolted at the center of the drawbar ID on top of themember I5. An elongated pin 35 extends vertically through an opening inthis piece 34 rearwardly of the draw-bar. A casting 36 has a sleeveportion 31 around the pin 35 just above the piece 34. Angle members 38and 39 are bolted to the sides of the casting particular check-wirearrangement or by the 36 and form a part of the frame of the planter.Resting on top of the sleeve portion 31 of the casting 36 is a casting39', through which the pin 35 extends and to which the angle member 29is bolted. On top of this casting 39' is another sleeve 46, which ispinned to the pin 35, as at 4I. A bent member 42, having an arcuatetoothed portion 43, is attached to the sleeve 40. A lever 44 with detentmechanism thereon is pivoted, as at 45, to the member 42. A link 46 isconnected at one end at 41 on the lever 44 and at the other end at 48 ona bell crank 49 pivoted at 50 on the casting 36. A link 52 is pivoted onthe other arm of the bell crank 49, as at 53, and extends rearwardly ofthe corn planter, forming part of a control mechanism, which willpresently be described.

The seed dropping mechanism and drive therefor form no part of thepresent invention and are of the type shown in the patent to Ford No.1,443,173, dated January 23, 1923. Briefly, there are planting units 55and 56 carried alongside of one another with a common drive mechanismunder actuation of a single check-wire for releasing seed corn from theusual hopper mechanisms of the planters. The angle members 38 and 39,previously referred to, are parallel for a short portion of theirlengths and then extend outwardly away from one another. A trans verseangle member '51 is connected near the outer ends of the angle members38 and 39, and short, longitudinally extending members 58 and 59 areattached at its ends and to the very ends of the angle members 38 and39. Each of the planting units 55 and 56 has framework 66 connected tothe members 58 and 59. An axle 6I supports each framework 69, and thereis power lifting mechanism '62 connected therewith for lifting theplanting units from planting position to transport position. This powerlifting mechanism forms no part of the present invention and is of thetype shown in the patent to Towle No. 1,378,432, dated'May 17, 1921.

A novel arrangement for angling each axle 6I with respect to theframework 69 will now 'be described. Since the arrangement isidentical-for both planting units, only the one on planting unit "56will be referred to. At the ends of the axle'6I there are coveringwheels 63. The axle is supported at 62' near one end in fixed relationwith the framework 66. The support 63 adjacent the other end of the axleis shiftable and allows a shifting'of the axle with respect to theframework. The details of this may be seen in Figures '7 and 8. Theaxle-6| is carried in a plate member 65, slidably held against theframework 69 by a rack member 66, which has a portion 61 extendingthrough an elongated slot 68 in the plate member 65 in the framework 66.A reenforcing member 69 rests against the inner side of the framework60, which, from Figure 8, is seen to beef channel section. A bolt I6 andnut II hold all of the parts together. Ears I2 and I3 extend laterallyfrom the sides of the plate mem ber 65 and receive screws I4 and I5,which are adapted to serve as adjustable limits for the plate member 65in its movement with respect to the rack 66 and framework 66. A lever TIis pivotally connected at I8 adjacent one end to the plate member 65 andhas at that end an arcuate toothed portion 79 which'engages the rack 66.The other end of the lever 11 has a link I8 pivotally attached thereto,which is connected at its other'end to one arm of a bell crank 86(Figure 1) pivotally supported on a bracket member BI. A cross link 63connects -the bell cranks 36 of each planting unit, Adjacent a mid-point84 of the link 83, one end of a bell crank 85 is attached, which ispivotally supported on a bracket member 86 connected to the member 51.The link 52 previously referred to is connected to the other end of thebell crank 65. It will be seen from the arrangement of parts justdescribed and the connection of the link 52 with the lever 44 previouslydescribed that an adjustment of one end of each axle BI is had bymovement of the lever 44 up or down with respect to the arcuate toothedportion 43. Adjustment of the angle of the axles with respect to theframes of the planting units is made in order that compensation may behad for the drag of the checkwire in the check-head at one side of theplanter, which tends to make the planter run out of line. This tendencyto run out of line is also present during side hill planting. The wheelsand the axles of the planting units may be angled, as shown by thecenter lines at the lower right in Figure 1.

The novel means for throwing the check-wire clear 'of' the planter'willnow be described. As seen Figure 1, a check-wire 99 is received at oneside of the planter I2 over a sheave 33, extends'across' the planterback of the tractor over the sheave 32, and is laiddown at the same sideof the planter as the sheave 32. The check-wire passes through acheck-head mechanism 9I having a check-wire guide 92. This mechanismwith its'guide forms no part of the present invention and isdisclosed inthe patent to Ford No. 1,376,- 522, dated May 3, 1921. Anarm 93 ispivotally supported by'mean's of an end portion 94 extending at rightangles to the remainder of the arm in a'bearingmember 95 supported bycross angle member5'I and a bearing member 96 supported on ajplatemember 91 secured to the angle members 38 and 39 adjacent their forwardends.

The arm has an extensible portion 98, which in are in turn fixed,respectively, to angle brackets carried by member'5l. Normally, the arm93 would occupy a vertical position, as in Figure 2, being under theaction of opposed tension springs, but in operation of the planter it isheld in a position such as shown in Figures 1 and 9 with the spring I04under tension. The arm is held in this position by meansof aflatchmechanism shown in detail in Figure 6. A 'U-shaped member I06 is securedto the angle member 38 adjacent its point of connection with the member57, A latch member I0! is pivoted at I68 on the U-shaped member I96 andholds down the arm 93. A link III] is connected at one end to the latchI61 and at the other end to a lever III fixed atone end of a shaft II2.This shaft H2 is journaled adjacent one end in a bearing member II3 onthe angle member 39 and adjacent the=other end in a bearing member H4 onthe angle member 39. At the said other end of the shaft II2 are alsomembers like those shown in Figure 6 for retaining the arm 93 when it isin a position opposed to that shown in Figure 1. An arm II'6 (Figure '5)is secured near a midpoint-of the shaft H2 and is under control of aspring III attached to it and to a member II8 fixed to the member 51.The action of the spring II! is such as to pull arm II6 to the right, asviewed in Figure 5, and thus move the lever I I Ito the right, as viewedin Figure 6, and'keep the latch I61 over the arm 93. A link I2I isattached at one end to the arm H6 and at the other end to a lever I22pivoted at I23 on the angle members 38 and 39. A free end I24 of thelever I22 extends upwardly above the angle members. An arcuate memberI26 is secured to the transversely extending member 29, and hasprojections I21 and I28 secured thereto. These projections extendoutwardly beyond the arcuate member in such a fashion that, if thearcuate member is turned with respect to the planter, one of theprojections will contact the free end I24 of the lever I22 and cause thelever to move in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5. Thismeans that the arm H6 is pulled to the left, and likewise the lever III,so that the latch I01 is pulled away to release the arm 93. With therelease of the arm 93, the spring I04 jerks the arm to a verticalposition so as to throw the check-wire over the planter. The spring Iopposes movement of the arm 93 beyond the vertical. The two springs tendto hold the arm in a cushioned vertical position. However, it isnecessary that the check-wire be released from the check-head mechanism9|. For this purpose the guide member 92 is connected with the lever l II through a flexible member I3I, running over a guide pulley I32, and aturnbuckle I33. The arrangement is such that the check-wire will bereleased from the check-head mechanism by the pulling back of the guidemember 92 an instant before the arm 93 is released by the latch I01.

In actual operation, the planter is pulled along by the tractor, asviewed in Figure 1. When the end of one trip across the field isreached,

it is desired that the tractor be turned to the left. A turning to theleft will cause the projection I21 carried by the arcuate member I26,which is fixed with respect to the tractor and turns with it, to strikethe lever I22 and move it in a clockwise direction, so as to pull backthe guide member 92 to release the check-wire from the check-headmechanism 9| and to pull the latch I01 away from the arm 93. Thecheckvvire sheave 32 will in the meantime have moved to the dotted lineposition with the turning of the tractor, thus causing a slack in thecheckwire. The check-wire is now thrown from the left hand side of theplanter, as shown inv Figure over to the right hand side, and thetractor and the planter are free of the check-wire, so that they may beturned around to start another trip back across the field. With thetractor and planter ready for the return trip, the check-wire is againbrought into engagement with the check- Wire sheaves and the check-headmechanism. On

thistrip, however, the check-wire is received at the left of Figure 1over the check-wire sheave 32, brought across over the sheave 33 at theright of the planter, and laid down in engagement with the check-headmechanism 9| at the right side of the planter. The arm 93 in themeantime has been brought down so as to extend toward the right side ofthe planter under the checkwire, and is held in that position by thelatch I01 on the right side of the planter. Then, the four rows areplanted, and, at the end of this trip, a turn to the right is made. Thismeans that the check-wire sheave 33 swings back toward the planter,allowing the check-Wire to become loose. The projection I28 moves thelever I22, the check-wire guide 92 releases the checkwire from the checkhead mechanism, and the throw the check-wire from the right hand side ofthe machine over to the left hand side.

. It will be seen from the foregoing description that a novel planterhas been provided. By means of the arrangement for angling the axles andthe wheels of the planter, the tendency of the planter to move out ofline with the tractor during side-hill planting is resisted.Furthermore, a novel means for throwing the check-wire clear of aplanter at the end of a row has been provided. The wheel angling meansis of special advantage with the particular planter shown with its novelcheck-wire throwing means, because, for the proper operation of thecheck-wire throwing means, the planter must be pivotally attached to thetractor, and with a pivotal attachment the planter is more liable todeviate from the line followed by the tractor so as to require wheelangling.

The intention is to limit the invention only within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a check-head planter, pulling means therefor, andmeans actuable upon turning of the pulling means for releasing acheck-wire from a check-head of the planter.

2. A construction comprising a check-head planter, check-wire sheaves atopposite sides of the planter, and means for bodily moving a check-wireheld by the sheaves and a check-head from one side of the planter to theother.

3. A construction comprising a planter, checkwire sheaves at oppositesides of the planter for receiving a check-wire at one side, guiding itacross the planter, and releasing it at the other side, and means forthrowing the check-wire across the planter. r

4. In. combination, a tractor, check-wire sheaves rigidly secured at therear of the tractor at opposite sides, a check-head planter pivotallysecured at the rear of the tractor, and a check wire engaging thecheck-Wire sheaves and the check head of the planter.

latch I01 releases the arm 93, so that it may 7 5. In combination, apulling means, a planter attached thereto and having a check-head,check-wire sheaves positioned at opposite sides of the center line ofthe planter and the pulling means, a check-wire trained about thesheavesand engaging the check-head, and means for moving the check-Wire bodilyfrom one side of the planter to the other, said means being operative bya turning of the pulling means.

6. In combination, a pulling means, a checkhead planter attachedthereto, check-wire sheaves positioned at opposite sides of the centerline of the planter and the pulling means, a check-wire trained aboutthe sheaves, and means operative upon the turning of the pulling meansfor releasing the check-wire from a checkhead of the planter and formoving the wire bodily from one side of the planter to the other.

7. In combination, a check-head planter, pulling means therefor, acheck-wire engaging the check-head, and means operative upon turning ofthe pulling means for moving the wire bodily from one side of theplanter to the other.

8. In combination, a check-head planter, pulling means therefor, acheck-wire engaging the check-head, and means operative upon turning ofthe pulling means for releasing a check-Wire from a check-head of theplanter and for throwing the wire over the planter.

9. A construction comprising a planter, checkwire sheaves at oppositesides thereof, a checkwire trained about the sheaves, means for pullingthe planter, and means for throwing the check-wire over the planter fromone side thereof to the other, said means being operative upon turningof the pulling means.

10. A construction comprising a planter having a check-head at oppositesides thereof, checkwire sheaves at opposite sides thereof, a checkwiretrained about the sheaves and engaging a check-head, means for pullingthe planter, and meansactuated by a turning of the pulling means forreleasing a check-wire from a check-head and for throwing the check-wireover the planter.

11. In combination, a tractor, check-wire sheaves Ifixedly positioned atopposite sides of the tractor, a planter pivotally connected to thetractor and including check-heads at opposite sides thereof, acheck-wire trained over the sheaves and extending transverselyof thetractor between the sheaves andlongitudinally of the tractor in oppositedirections beyond the sheaves, a rod pivotally mounted on the plantermidway between the check-heads, springs connecting the rod and planterand tending to hold the rod in an upright position, and means actuatedby a pivoting of the tractor about the planter upon turning of thetractor for releasing the checkwire from a check-head and forreleasingthe rod from a horizontal position with one end under thecheck-wire'for throwing the check-wire over the planter.

12. In combination, a tractor, a bar rigidly secured at the rear of thetractor and extending transversely thereof beyond the sides thereof,check-wire sheaves positioned on the bar out-- wardly of both sides ofthe tractor, a check-wire trained over the sheaves and extendingtransversely of the tractor between the sheaves and longitudinally ofthe tractor in opposite directions beyond the sheaves, an arcuate memberrigidly secured at the rear of the tractor and having spaced projectionsthereon, a planter pivotally connected to the tractor at substantiallythe center of the arcuate member and having check-heads at oppositesides, a rod pivotally mounted at the center of the planter, springstending to hold the rod in an upright position, and linkage meansextending from connection with the check-heads and the rod to a pointimmediately adjacent the arcuate member and projections thereon, wherebyupon turning of the tractor there is a loosening of the check-wire aboutone sheave and a projection on the arcuate member contactsthe linkagemeans to effect a release of the check-wire from one check-head and arelease of the rod from a horizontal position with its end under thecheck-wire so as to throw the check-wire over the planter.

13. In combination, a tractor, check-wire sheaves carried at theopposite sides toward the rear thereof, a check-wire trained about thesheaves, a planter frame connected at the rear of the tractor, a rodpivotally mounted on the planter, and opposite spring means connectingthe rod and frame for moving the rod from a horizontal position to acushioned vertical position for throwing a, check-wire over the planterframe, said spring means also serving to cushion the rod in its verticalposition.

14. In combination, a tractor, a check-head planter pivotally connectedto the tractor, checkwire sheaves mounted on the tractor at one endthereof and at opposite sides thereof, a checkwire trained about thesheaves and engaging a check-head, and means for moving the check-

